Birds a' chirpin', geese a' honking' and balmy air....signs of spring! Are we in the clear? I heard some parts of Canada are to see snow this week but hopefully we are done with the bone-chilling, face-freezing days.

Back in January a good friend of mine gave me my first fuss-free pot of herbs. I am so grateful for my little pot of herbs! I am now literally steps away from fresh herbs every day. Snip snip, chop, chop and voila, flavour and phytonutrients into the next meal.

While I have a bittersweet relationship with gardening, I am excited my hubby and kids have done a superb job starting off our veggie garden this year. What's with the bitter sweet? Anyone who knows me knows I don't have much interest in gardening. It's not so much the idea of gardening that bothers me as much as it's the allergies, asthma and eczema that comes along with it. Not to mention the bug phobia. I've got itchy skin and I don't need creepy crawlies to remind me what itchy feels like.

Hubby and I joked about growing an indoor veggie garden. How incredible would it be to have fresh veggies all year 'round? Until then, the herbs will do. :)

Asian lettuce wraps are normally filled with complex flavours: Soy sauce, sesame oil, hoisin sauce...sometimes oyster sauce or fish sauce...the list goes on. While these ingredients provide a depth of flavour, they're not allergy friendly. In my recipe I replaced all these sauces with plenty of fresh ingredients including fresh mint and basil (from my pot of herbs, no less!)

In a large pan, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Sauté the garlic, green onions and carrots for no more than 30 seconds. Reduce to medium heat and cook until the carrots are slightly soft, about 3-5 minutes. To prevent burning, add a splash of water if necessary. Increase the pan to medium high heat and add the pork. Cook for 3-5 minutes, breaking up the meat and cooking until the pork is no longer pink. Turn off the heat and stir in the fresh mint and basil.

Fill your lettuce wraps with the pork filling or have everyone assemble them on their own. :)

Enjoy! :)

Looking for more allergy free ideas? Find more recipes void of the top 10 food allergens right here!

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Managed by Tiffany Chung

*While recipes in this website do not directly contain the following food allergens: Eggs, milk, mustard, peanuts, seafood (fish, crustaceans and shellfish), sesame, soy, added sulphites, tree nuts and wheat, there is always a possibility that the ingredients listed in the recipe may have come in contact with one or more of the listed food allergens. It is highly recommended that you read ingredient labels carefully when purchasing products and to consult your physician if you have questions regarding whether or not a food should be consumed.